On this Day (WWI aviation news), Vol. 3

[PJ Fisher]

Udet to Invade U.S.?
During the upheavals flanking the birth of the Weimar Republic, Germany's highest-scoring ace to survive the war appears to be looking beyond his home country for career opportunities.  It's unclear to me if Ernst Udet actually ever landed an agent for this proposed American endeavor, but he would spend the next decade living the life of an international playboy.  He did land in the United States in 1931 when he was "...invited to the National Air Races held in Cleveland, Ohio. He accepted and treated the crowd to a spectacular air show performance. After his flight, he was introduced on the stage by the American ace Eddie Rickenbacker. Also brought up on stage was {American fighter pilot} Walter Wanamaker, who shook hands with Udet. Udet then presented the serial numbers to Wanamaker that he cut from his plane thirteen years before after shooting him down."  That incident was Udet's 39th victory, which occurred over Bezu-St. Germaine on 2 July 1918.
(respectively from the Evening Capital News and the Washington Herald, 26 and 27 April 1919):



(image via nationalmuseum.af.mil)

[PJ Fisher]

Friedrichshafen Fighter!
Looks like we have another aero rarity pictured in today's article... the newly-debuted Albatros-like Friedrichshafen D.1. "Although the D.I was developed from the FF.43, they did not share any components. The D.I replaced the floats with a conventional landing gear arrangement, but retained its predecessor's single-bay, staggered-wing design, 160 hp Mercedes D.III straight-six engine and its pair of synchronised 7.92 mm Spandau machine guns. The two prototypes were tested by Idflieg until 28 April 1917, revealing that they possessed flight characteristics and performance inferior to that of the Albatross {sic} D.III, so it did not order the D.I into production and the project was abandoned." (via wikipedia)


(from the Sydney Sun, 28 April 1918):

[PJ Fisher]

Caproni Caravan
Another ambitious American has devised plans for a transatlantic train of Caproni triplane bombers to Britain.  This time it's Henry Woodhouse, who's dark past was illuminated here last June (https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13750.msg255640#msg255640).
(from the Evening World, 29 April 1918):

[PJ Fisher]

Austrian Air Losses
Would anyone here know the identity of this derelict hydroplane numbered 'T 188'?
(from the Cambria Daily Leader, 30 April 1917):

[PJ Fisher]

Inspiration
Just in time for today's kickoff of the David Wilson Memorial Group Build, here's a profile on the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a from an article published on this day in 1918.  These plans were based on the Vickers-built machine with serial number B507, flown by 2nd. Lieutenant J. J. Fitzgerald of No.60 Squadron in October 1917.  Engine failure over Bavikhove forced him to land on Jasta 18's Harlebeke airfield where his 'kampf-einsitzer' was captured intact.  An airworthy replica of B507 exists today... here's a 'walkaround' gallery of another reproduction by the same manufacturer for further inspiration to anyone aiming to contribute an S.E.5a to the Group Build: https://thevintageaviator.co.nz/projects/se-5a-reproduction/se5a-walkaround. Model on everyone!
(from Aeronautical Engineering, 1 May 1918)



(image via flickr)

[PJ Fisher]

Forever Grounded
Well, here we have it- official confirmation that Manfred von Richtofen was shot down by ground fire. Pfffew... that ends that debate!  As is well known, The Great War's leading ace was killed in combat just eight days prior.  The crash site being a field just north of the village of Vaux-sur-Somme.
(from the Bendigo Advertiser, 2 May 1918)



(image via pierreswesternfront.nl)

[JamesAPrattIII]

reply 33 the A-H seaplane was the K 188 Oeffag made on 17 Apr 17 it was FTL in the sea while on a recon op to Venice the crew were later POWs of the Italians.

[PJ Fisher]

reply 33 the A-H seaplane was the K 188 Oeffag made on 17 Apr 17 it was FTL in the sea while on a recon op to Venice the crew were later POWs of the Italians.

Brilliant - thanks!

[PJ Fisher]

Italian Aces
A survey of Italy's finest flying fighters from the Great War.  Loosely translated:
"We have before us the official list of aerial victories approved by Italian pilots of the land air force from 24 May 1915 until the day of the armistice (4 November 1918). This list includes only the victories for which all the required verification tests were achieved and which had official approval, always applied with rigorous concepts.

At the top of the ranking, with 34 confirmed victories, is the most senior Francesco Baracca fell on June 18 on Montello; Lieutenant Silvio Scaroni comes second with 26 victories; third was lieutenant colonel Pier Ruggiero Piccio with 24 victories; fourth was Lieutenant Flavio Baracchini with 21 victories; fifth the captain Folco Ruffo of Calabria with 20 victories; in sixth place are Lieutenant Rerruccio Renza and Sergeant Marzinie Caratti with 17 victories, in seventh place is Lieutenant Olivari Luigi with 12 victories, who fell on 13 October 1917 in Campoformido, eighth place is held by Lieutenant Angilotto Giovanni and by Sergeant Reali Antonio with 11 victories: in second place with 8 victories each are lieutenants Gastone Novelli, Flaminio Avet, Carlo Lombardo. second lieutenants Leonardi Alvaro, Cabruna Ernesto, sergeant Nicelli Giovanni, who fell on 5 May 1918; in tenth place, with 7 victories each, are captain Riva An-tonio, lieutenants Fucili Mario and Eleu-Renella Cosimo; the eleventh place is held, for 6 victories achieved by captain Costantini Bortolo, by lieutenant Olivi Luigi - who fell on 17 July 1917 - by lieutenant Parvis Giuliano, by the sergeants Imolesi Attilio - who fell on 3 March 1918 - Stoppani Mario, ardini Guido, Bocchese IA1-(or, Ticoni Romolo, Magistrini Cesare and Rizzotto Cosimo; the twelfth place, finally, is held, for having shot down five enemy aircraft, by Captain Giovanni - who fell on 25 October 1917 - Buzio Alessandro, Masiero Guido, Bedendo Sebastiano, Me-cozzi Amedeo, Michetti Giorgio, from the second lieutenants Allasia Michele-caduto 20 July 1918-Amantea An-tonio, Resch Alessandrove by Sergeant Chiri Antonio.

This ranking is followed by another 200 names of military aviators, who shot down from 4 to 1 aircraft. From 24 May 1915 to 4 November 1918, Italian land aviation pilots shot down enemy aircraft and destroyed Draken for a total of 643. In the same period of war, our losses at the hands of the enemy amounted to 128 aircraft. Those victories which, although reliable, were not completely proven by documents are excluded from the above ranking."
(from The Patriot, 3 May 1919):



Have a look at forum member DaveB's build of the 1/32 Roden SPAD XIII as flown by Italy's fifth-ranking ace Capt. Fulco Ruffo di Calabria of 91a Squadriglia: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=13762.msg253986#msg253986

[PJ Fisher]

Knight of Space
Hoping your weekend is off to a better start than this poor chap's.
(from Les chevaliers de l'espace, Orcines Henri, 1918):

[PJ Fisher]

Fire in the Sky
Dutchman Frederick Koolhoven designed a number of intriguing airplanes for the British during the Great War.  His most successful being the F.K.8, which first flew in May 1916 in the hands of teenaged test pilot Peter Legh.  By war's end Koolhoven was chief designer for the British Aerial Transport Co. Ltd., where he produced a handful of designs based around various motors produced by the "All British (Engine) Company" (better known as ABC Motors).  Koolhoven's twenty-fifth creation was the BAT Basilisk, powered by ABC's 320hp Dragonfly radial which was notoriously prone to overheating. The dragonfly proved so promising that in June 1918, while war was still raging, the British war cabinet ordered 11,500 engines.  "It proved, however, to be extremely unreliable and was abandoned when its faults were unable to be corrected.  Aviation journalist Bill Gunston's referred to it as the worst cooled aero engine ever made. The copper-plated cooling fins proved useless; the cylinder heads tended to glow a dull red at operational speeds, and in extreme cases caused heat damage and even charring to the propeller.  Gunston's observations suggested that it had been as well that the Armistice had been signed in 1918, as the only other aero engine still in production at that time was the Rolls-Royce Eagle; all other types having been cancelled in favour of the untested Dragonfly." (viea wikipedia)

Nearly three years to the day he first flew Koolhoven's F.K.8, Peter Legh took to the sky in the F.K.25 Basilisk prototype for an attempt at a world altitude record.  It was not to be.  As noted in today's news, the Basilisk's Dragonfly engine exploded and sent Legh plummeting earthward.  His clothing was still burning when rescuers reached his body some sixty feet from the wreckage of Koolhoven's F.K.25.  Reportedly this incident became one of the factors leading to a mandatory engine-bay fire wall for future British aircraft.
(respectively from the Cambria Daily Leader, 5 May 1919; and the Police News 3 May 1919):

[PJ Fisher]

Hero's Homecoming
Britain's first aviator VC, William Henry Rhodes-Moorhouse, dutifully completed his final mission despite being mortally wounded.  Today news reports that he has been laid to rest on the grounds of Parnham House in Dorset - his family's five-hundred-year-old home. 
(from the Daily Sketch, 6 May 1915):




"On 22 April 1915, the Germans launched their first gas attack on Allied troops and for the next four days they took the initiative in battles in and around St. Julien and Ypres.  ...the RFC was ordered to bomb the enemy’s railway network to prevent reinforcements reaching the front lines. Rhodes-Moorhouse, who had been due leave, was instructed to bomb the strategically vital railway junction at Courtrai – one of three targets for four aircraft. He took off alone from Merville at 15.05 hours, having been asked to release his 100lb bomb from just below cloud level. To accurately bomb his target, the railway line to the west of Courtrai Station, William flew at a height of 300ft.

His aircraft came under intense enemy fire from a machine-gun located in the belfry of Courtrai Church and from the ground. He was hit by a burst of machine-gun fire and his aircraft was peppered by bullets and struck by shrapnel from the bomb explosion. However after making the thirty-two-mile flight, he dropped right down to 300 feet to ensure a direct hit. He was greeted instantly with a volley of rifle and machine-gun fire, and when he was directly over the target a burst of machine-gun fire perforated his aircraft’s fuselage and smashed into his thigh. At the same time, fragments from his own bomb ripped through the wings and tailplane.

Rhodes-Moorhouse, badly wounded and in great pain, had two options: land behind enemy lines, receive urgent medical attention and become a Prisoner of War; or try to limp back to base with his aircraft and the valuable intelligence he had gathered. Choosing the latter option, he dropped a further 200 feet to gain some extra speed and again encountered heavy fi re from the ground. This led to two new wounds to his hand and abdomen. He landed at Merville airfield at 1615 hours and had to be lifted out of the cockpit by his mechanics. William insisted on reporting the success of his mission to his Flight Commander before being taken to a Casualty Clearing Station where he died.  As a result of his action, the German reinforcements were delayed for a critical 16 hour period." (via westernfrontassociation.com)

Footnote:
 - "William’s son, also named William but known as Willie, went on to become a Battle of Britain pilot. From May 1940, he served at Merville, France, where his father had been killed in action twenty-five years earlier. He was shot down in a dogfight over Kent on 6 September 1940 and he was buried beside his father at Parnham House."
- "In April 2017 the house was badly damaged by fire, the cause of which is still undetermined. The entire interior and contents were lost." (via wikipedia)


(image via bridportnews.co.uk)

Here's a documentary on this aviator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIel5HsZzq0

[PJ Fisher]

Lone Raider
(from the Nome Daily Nugget, 7 May 1917):

[PJ Fisher]

Voisin Vision
A very grainy but familiar mid-war image spotlights a flight officer of the Imperial Russian Air Service (Императорскій военно-воздушный флотъ) loading a bomb in a French-made Voisin.
(from the Perth Daily News, 9 May 1916):



Here's another look at forum member lonemodeller's scratch-built 1/72 Voisin III LAS (in British service): https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=8617.msg158831#msg158831

[PJ Fisher]

Combat Aérien
Numerous notables are named in today's news of aerial combat between French and German flyers.  Among the acknowledged aces is Guynemer, Nungesser, Dorme, Pinsard, Madon and Alfred Marie-Joseph Heurtaux.  Heurtaux claimed his twenty-first and final victory on the morning of 4 May.  While flying for Escadrille Sps.3 over Beaurieux he managed to down an Albatros C type. 
(from the Evening Star, 9 May 1917):



What is not reported is that the very next day Heurtaux was in a wicked dogfight with nine Albatros D.IIIs, one being piloted by Ernst Udet (who headlined here two weeks back: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=14363.msg264793;topicseen#msg264793).  Udet clipped Heurtaux with multiple bullets, hitting him through both cheeks and both thighs, and also grazing his head.  "He eventually returned to duty, but did not score again. A second serious wounding in September 1917 sidelined him for the remainder of the war.  Indeed, he was fortunate to survive a bullet through his femoral artery.  An ordinary bullet would have proved fatal, but the incendiary round that hit him cauterized the wound, sealing off hemorrhaging. He struggled back to Allied lines, and lived." (via wikipedia)


(image via ouest-france.fr)


Footnote: During the Second World War Heurtaux joined the French Resistance before being captured by the German Gestapo and imprisoned in Buchenwald death camp.  He survived and ultimately lived long enough to have heard Band Aids' song 'Do They Know It's Christmas' top the international music charts before dying at age 92 in December 1985.